There has been no rash of rodent sightings, but the county's epidemiologist echoed Cunniff in warning that the piles of debris could pose a problem by providing shelter for creatures displaced by the storm.

"Are we going to be seeing a rodent problem?" Bill Toth said. "Maybe temporarily, but it'll only last as long as the debris."

Officials estimate Charley scattered up to 2 million cubic yards of tree debris and other trash across Orange County. It could take up to six months to remove it all.

Frank Meek, the technical director of the pest-control giant Orkin, said the destruction of so many trees probably displaced some roof rats, a subspecies common in Florida and fond of fruit.

For example, if debris piles are near a favorite fruit tree -- or a fruit tree is buried in the pile -- the rodents would simply gravitate toward the mess.

"They could become very attractive," said Meek, who heads up research at the pest-control firm. "They'd just be looking for something that feels comfortable."

Every city has rats and Orlando is no exception. They're spotted sometimes in downtown alleys and abandoned buildings or skittering across power lines.

Parts of South Florida experienced a huge rat problem in the months after Hurricane Andrew ripped across the state in 1992. Residents reported them invading porches, poking around debris piles and swimming in backyard pools.

But Andrew was different from Charley. Andrew blew apart 80,000 houses, whose shells became playgrounds for rodents.

Charley -- at least here in Central Florida -- mostly damaged trees and power lines. There isn't a collection of ramshackle buildings for rats, mice and other creatures to hide in.

That said, residents might see a few here and there. If the debris piles become a magnet, state officials said, residents should notify their local emergency management department.

"Report it right away," said Steve Rutz, a division director with the Florida Department of Agriculture. "Let local officials deal with it."